Korean Firms Dominate Mobile DRAM Market

Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology accounted for 97.3 percent of the global DRAM market for mobile devices in the first quarter of this year, Market researcher iSupply said on Monday.

Samsung Electronics posted US$1.2 billion in sales and remained on top with a 43.9 percent share. Micron, of the U.S., which acquired Japan's Elpida, came in second at 29.8 percent followed by SK Hynix with 23.6 percent.

Samsung controlled more than 50 percent of the market until 2012, but SK Hynix has been chasing after it by increasing production. Micron's acquisition deal expanded its market share from the single digits.

Competition in the market is expected to continue heating up, as demand for DRAM chips used in computers decreases while smartphones and tablet PCs make up the difference. Also DRAM chips for mobile devices are more profitable than computer chips, prompting chipmakers to increase their production.